Disciplined without being rigid- I believe that everyone can practice Ashtanga vinyasa yoga, that everything is adaptable, accessible and can be tailored to you- especially in the Mysore room.
After over 18 years of daily practice, āsana and beyond, I’ve have the honour of practicing with incredible teachers…. more details below…
Biography
Emma Isokivi is a devoted Mysore teacher and owner of Ashtanga Yoga Edinburgh
Emma began practicing yoga regularly in 2006 after chronic sciatica fuelled her focus to practice yoga more and run less as both provided the mental space/ breath-work focus that she craved.
She took her first trip to India in 2009 and a month's study in a Sivananda Ashram in Madurai, where she followed a strict regime of asana practice, chanting, cleanses, mediation and philosophy classes and transformed her relationship with a yoga practice beyond just the physical.
In 2011, Emma started a daily Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga practice with Karen Kirkness and went on to assist Sarah Durney Hatcher for over 6 years, and is currently completing the 3rd series of the Ashtanga Vinyasa system under Sarah’s guidance.
Emma regularly studies at SYC in Mysore, Southern India- the birthplace of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga with Paramaguru Sharath Jois. In 17/18, she received his blessing to teach Ashtanga Yoga, in 2024 updated to Full Intermediate Series.
In November 2019, Emma took over the reigns of managing and directing Meadowlark’s Mysore program from Sarah. Meadowlark closed May 2024.
June 2024, Ashtanga Yoga Edinburgh was reborn. Emma bought a former yoga centre- The Yoga Stable, to build a long term home for the dedicated and diverse Edinburgh Ashtanga community. She works daily with both newer and advanced practitioners both on and off the mat and supporting a team of 8+ Mysore teachers and assistants that run over 50 hours of week of classes.
Beyond the āsana Emma also studies chanting with Dave Charlton and Lakismish Bhat, including Vedic, Yoga Sutras and the Upanishads.
Aside from the yoga mat and shala, you’ll find Emma at home nurturing her newly extended family of young children (2 and 8), cycling around the city or rock climbing.
KPJAYI/ SYC Level 2 authorised in 2017 from Paramaguru Sharath Jois, Mysore.
Trauma Informed Training 2020, Edinburgh Community Yoga.
Natural Bodies- specialist Anatomy Training for Yoga Teacher- 2014- 2015
RYT 200, Yoga Alliance, CYS Scotland 2013
Emma’s Key Values
Emma strongly believes that your yoga asana practice can move beyond the physical, it's also about the lessons we take off the mat, the mental strength and stability and the understanding of breath to support us in our everyday lives.
In her teaching you'll find both a large physical element but also moving beyond into sanskrit, chanting and philosophy from ancient yogic texts that will leave you feeling inspired.
Emma is a great advocate for your practice improving your quality life, making you better in your body and mind and relationships with those around you. The practice is to bring a deeper sense of clarity.